Keg, barrel and similar receptacle.



` c. H. MocK.' KEG, BARREL, AND SIMILAR BEGBPTAGLB.

APPLI OATIOF FILED FEB. 6, 1907.

91 @302, V Patented lm19, 1909.

J/WENTOR r (/mr/es //V/ov/f( A t l 0 A o Alion ys UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

CHARLES H. MOCK, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BURT MCFARLAND, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

KEG, BARREL, AND SIMILAR RECEPTACLE.

Application filed February 6, 1907.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. Moon, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Kegs, Barrels, and Similar Receptacles, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in kegs, barrels and similar receptacles, and the invention relates more particularly to kegs, and barrels designed for holding liquids, as beer, whisky, and similar beverages.

The invention has for its primary object the provision of positive and reliable means for strengthening a keg or barrel whereby it will not collapse and will withstand the rough usage to which it is ordinarily subjected. y

Another object of this invention is the provision of novel means whereby easy access may be had to the interior of a keg or barrel for cleansing purposes. 'Io this end, I have devised a simple and inexpensive keg or barrel having strengthening and cushioning bands or hoops, and a detachable head which can be easily and quickly removed from the barrel or keg. In this connection, my invention is primarily intended for use as a beer keg or barrel, it being essential that beer kegs or barrels be thoroughly cleansed. Heretofore it has been practically impossible to thoroughly cleanse the interior of a keg or barrel on account of its immovable heads. By the construction of my improved keg or barrel, the interior thereof can be easily cleansed after each time the barrel is used, thereby dispensing with various linings and chemical compositions heretofore used for maintaining the interior of a barrel or keg in a clean state.

With these and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing forming part of this speciiication, like numerals of reference Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Serial No. 356,068.

designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a keg or barrel constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail ectional view of a portion of a barrel or keg, Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a head fastener constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of one of the bands or hoops of the barrel or keg.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated a keg or barrel formed of a plurality of staves l, said barrel having a xed head 2, and bung or tap holes 3 and 4t which are suitably closed, preferably by corks. The staves l are held together by a plurality of metallic bands or hoops 5 and 6, these bands or hoops being substantially semicircular in cross section. In the bands or hoops 5 and 6 are arranged strips of resilient material 7, as rubber, said strips being slightly larger than the interior area of the bands or hoops, whereby when said bands or hoops are placed upon the keg or barrel, the resilient material will be slightly compressed.

Gwing to the fact that the material of the hoops or bands is of equal thickness and rolled or bent to a form in cross-section corresponding with the lines of a semi-circle, there are provided two spaced stave-contacting faces formed by the edges of the band, with an interior space which, as heretofore pointed out, is filled with an elastic material such as rubber. As will be obvious, the form of the band in cross-section when combined with the curvature of the hoop to conform to the shape of the barrel, provides a hoop of maximum strength. In addition, the fact that the stave-contacting face of the hoops is formed by the central compressed elastic portion and the outer meta-llic edge portions relative movement of the hoop and stave is prevented, the elastic portion forming a cushion to prevent excessive strain being placed on the stave by the metallic edges when excessive pressure is placed on the surface of the hoop.

Besides the iixed head Q, Igise a detachable head S, said head being stepped or provided with annular shoulders 9 adapted to engage in annular seats l0 formed in the ends of the staves 1. The annular seats 10 are provided with annular gaskets 11 to insure a positive and non-leakable connection between the head 8 and the keg or barrel.

To reta-in the head 8 in engagement with the keg or barrel, I use a fastener embodying a stirrup 12, said stirrup passing through the lugs 14 carried by the head 8. The ends of the stirrup 12 extend downwardly upon the sides of the keg or barrel, and are secured in eyelets 15 carried by a locking stirrup. 16 having angularly disposed arms 17 pivoted, as at 18, to the band or hoop 6, said eyelets 15 being located at the point of juncture of the arms 18 with the remaining portion of the stirrup, it being understood that said arms 17 are formed integrally with the remainder of the stirrup.

The locking stirrup 16 is. adapted to surround a portion of the keg or barrel as shown in F ig. 1 of the drawing, and when in an elevated .position release the head 8, but when in a lowered position firmly binding and retaining the head 8y upon'the keg or barrel.

As heretofore pointed out, the locking stirrup comprises a stirrup-like portion which terminates in arms which extend laterally therefrom at approximately right angles; and that the head-stirrup is pivotally connected to the locking-stirrup at the point of juncture of these parts. It will therefore be understood that the head-stirrup is pivotally connected tok the locking-st-irrup at opposing points intermediate the ends of the latter, and that the locking-stirrup is pivotally connected, at its ends, with the hoop.

By this construction, the movement of the stirrups is confined to that resulting from the pivotal movementof the locking-stirrup on the hoop, and this movement, by reason of the relative form and arrangement of the parts, is confined to a kmovement approximating the direction of movement of the head of the barrel, the angularity of the portions of the locking stirrup practically causing the head-stirrup to extend in practically the plane of either the stirrup-portion of the locking-stirrup when the head is closed, or in the plane of the arm-portion when the head is moved directly upward. In either of these positions, the stirrup-portion of the locking-stirrup is brought into contact with the surface of the barrel to limit the movement of said stirrup-portion on its pivots, and in either position, the parts form a harness which will protect the barrel staves. A particular advantage of this construction, however, lies in the fact that accidental movement of the stirrups to open the barrel is practically.,eliminated, excepting pressure be applied directly' on the stirrup-portion of the locking-stirrup and in a direction which will move said stirrup on its pivot.

The application of pressure from either side of and in a direction cross-wise of the barrel, will not cause the opening movement of the head unless this pressure be in a direction corresponding to the path of travel of the eyelets 15.

The head fastener embodying the stirrups 12, 1G and the arms 17 are made of semi-cylindrical metallic strips similar to the bands or hoops 5 and 6, and the stirrups 12 and 16 and the arms 17 are provided with resilient material 19, similar to the bands or hoops 5 and 6.

The bands or hoops 5 and 6 together with the head fastening mechanism constitutes a metallic harness for a barrel or keg, said harness protecting the staves of the barrel or keg and preventing them from being injured or collapsed by roughly handling the barrel or keg. In providing the keg or barrel with a detachable head, the interior of the keg or barrel can be easily cleansed at any desired time, and while I have herein show-n a barrel or keg as made of wooden staves, it is obvious that the barrel or keg or similar receptacle can be constructed of metal, pottery clays, vitreous material or similar materials, the bands or hoops in either instance serving to protect a barrel or similar receptacle and prevent it from breaking.

Such changes in the size, proportion and minor details of construction as are permissible by the appended claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Vhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination, a barrel having the top edge of its body portion provided with a plurality of annularv shoulders arranged in step-like manner and'separated by inclined portions, a head provided with a plurality of annular shoulders arranged in step-like manner and separated by inclined portions, gaskets mounted upon said seats, and means permanently carried by the head and barrel and extending without and below the plane of the head for maintaining said shoulders in engagement with the gaskets.

2. In a barrel, a removable head, ahead stirrup, and an operating stirrup pivotal'lyconnected to the head stirrup, said operating stirrup having a pivotal connection at its lower end with the barrel, the point of pivotal connection of the operating stirrup and barrell being below the plane of the pivotal connection of the stirrups, said stirrups when the head is in a closed position, being positioned relatively to each other to prevent any movement of the stirrups to release the head other than by pressure applied in the direction ofthe opening movement of the head. V

3'. In a barrel, a removable head, a head sov stirrup, and a, looking stirrup pivotally-conneeted at its lower ends to the barrel the point of pivotal connection of the looking stirrup and the barrel being below the plane of the point of pivotal connection of the stirrups, said locking stirrup being of angular form, said stirrups being pivotally-oonneoted together at the apex of the angle of the looking stirrup.

4. In a barrel, a removable head, a head stirrup having its upper ends pivoted to the head, and a looking stirrup7 said looking stirrup embodying a stirrup portion and arms extending therefrom laterally at approximate right angles, said arms having the lower ends thereof pivotally connected to the barrel and the said stirrnps being pivotally-conneeted at the apex of the angle of the looking stirrup, the point of pivotal Connection of the looking stirrup with the barrel being below the plane of the pivotal connection of the stirrups.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. MOCK. Vitnesses MAX SRoLovrrz, A. J. TRIGG. 

